Clutch mechanism



March 21, 1939. POHLMEY'ER 2,151,150

CLUTCH MECHANISM Filed Dec. 4, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet l a i Q.

5 V *2 Ni g w Invent a2; v AlfiusiHPO/Zime er m v gkfx Afforneys March 21, 1939. A. H. POHLMEYER CLUTCH MECHANI SM 2 Sheets-Sheet Filed Dec. 4, 1937 A zo us f f] Eklmqyer Exam am Afiomeus Patented Mar. 21, 1939 UNITED STATES FATENT GFFIQE 1 Claim.

'The'present invention relates to new and useful improvements in flour sifting means for dough machines, the same being a continuation in part of my co -pending application Serial No.

" 56,386 .filed December 2'7, 1935.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide clutch means for sifter mechanisms of the character stated wherein the sifting mechanism can be stopped whenever desired, while the dough breaker machine is in operation.

.Another important object of the invention is to provide clutch means for flour sifting mechanisms which can be operated conveniently by a :single machine attendant.

Still another important object of the inventionis-to provide clutch means for sifter mechanisms of the character stated wherein the clutch will remain in engaged position when shifted by the attendant without further attention until disengagement is desired.

These and various other important objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent to the reader of the following specification.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a top plan view illustrating the application of the clutch mechanism.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view show ing the clutch means.

Figure 3 is a cross sectional view on the line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view showing the clutch mechanism.

Figure 5 is a cross sectional view taken substantially on the line 55 of Figure 4.

Figure 6 is an elevational view of the clutch actuating arm.

-Referring to the drawings wherein like numerals designate like parts, it can be seen that the dough breaker machine with which the clutch mechanism of my invention is concerned, includes upright frame members 6-5 upon which is supported the flour hopper 1, from which the flour is delivered to dough as it passes there- 5 under to the usual table. As in the conventional machine, this hopper l is provided with a cylindrical lower portion 8 for receiving the flour agitating reel 3 which is secured to the shaft Hi, this shaft being disposed through the cylindrical portion 8 of the hopper and provided at one end with the extension ll The bottom of the hopper 'l as usual, is provided with a longitudinally extending slot f2 filled by the sifting screen 53.

The clutch mechanism whereby the reel 9 can be stopped independently of the drive mech anism of the machine will now be described. This mechanism l4 comprises the casing l5 of cylindrical shape and having an opening therein permitting access to the clutch and other details and closed by the cover plate 16. A bearing i1 is mounted within one end of the casing l5 and the shaft ll extends therethrough and as is clearly shown in Figure 2. The shaft extension H is provided with a thrust collar 18 secured in place by a set screw I9 and interposed between the thrust collar and the bearing I1 is the ball bearing mount 20. Suitable lubricating means 2| is provided for the bearing l1.

Slidably connected with the shaft extension H by a key H is the circumferentially grooved collar 22 in the groove of which the end portions 23 of the clutch fork 24 engage, said fork forming part of a clutch actuating lever 25 pivotally mounted, as at 21, on ears 26 extending from the cover plate It.

One end of the arm 25 extends into the casing l5 and has attached thereto the fork 24 while the other end of the arm 25 is provided with a handle 28 extending laterally toward the sifter.

The extending end of the shaft extension H is journaled in the spindle 29, this spindle being provided with the reduced extension 30 to which the sprocket wheel 3| is secured for connection to the usual sprocket and chain drive mechanism of the machine, not shown. The outer end of the casing 15 is provided with the header 3?. having the tubular extension 33 in which the spindle 29 is journaled.

The inner end of the spindle 29 is provided with a clutch drum 34 and between this drum and the inner end of the tubular extension 33 is the ball bearing mount 35.

Secured by a set screw to the shaft extension I l is the collar 35 from which extends the radial flange 31. Extending laterally from this flange 37 in circumferentially spaced concentric relation to the extension II and the clutch drum 34 are the arcuate-shaped cleats 3838 against which the split clutch band or shoe 39 is engageable. The ends of this band 39 are provided with inwardly disposed lugs 40-40 tensioned against separation by the split spring ring 41 having its ends bearing against the lugs 4[l4ll and holding the same against the cam 42 adapted as presently seen for rotation to separate said lugs. This cam 42 is located on the shaft 43 which extends through the flange 31 and on the opposite side of the flange 31 from that shown in Figure 5, the shaft 42 is provided with the arcuate-shaped arm 44, which at its free end is provided with the head having a threaded bore therethrough for receiving the set screw 46. A jamb nut 4'! is provided on this screw for cooperation with the head 45 to lock said screw in set position.

The slide collar 22 is provided with a. reduced extension d8 against which the screw 46 rides when the clutch is in disengaged position. Between this reduced extension 58 and the smooth cylindrical portion 39 is the beveled shoulder portion 553 over which the screw 46 can easily ride to bear against the portion Q9.

It can now be seen, that when the lever 28 is actuated to slide the collar 22 toward the right in Figure 4, that is to apply the clutch, the extension t3 and shoulder 56 will cam the screw 46 outwardly and result in the movement of the screw from the reduced portion 58 to the portion d5. This obviously causes outward movement of the arm 34% (see Figure 6), rotating the shaft 53 and the cam "52 so that the cam acts to separate the lugs dfi-fi and expand the clutch band 39 into engagement with the drum 34. As long as the screw 26 rests against the portion 49 of the collar 22, the clutch will be maintained engaged without any manual effort. However, when disengagement of the clutch is desired, a reverse movement of the collar 22 will result in the restoration of the screw 46 against the reduced portion it so that the clutch will become disengaged.

This operation of the clutch will permit the attendant to operate the clutch to stop the sifting mechanism, thus leaving considerable quantities of flour which would normally sift down between delivery of the dough in the dough machine.

While the foregoing specification sets forth the invention in specific terms, it is to be understood that numerous changes, in the shape, size and materials may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed hereinafter.

Having described the claimed as new is:

Clutch mechanism for use on one end of a rotatably mounted shaft comprising a cylindrical housing extending over said end of the shaft concentrically thereof, a driven spindle rotatably mounted in the outer end of said housing and on said end of the shaft, whereby said end of the housing is supported on said shaft, a friction drum fast on the inner end of said spindle invention, what is concentrically of the shaft, a shoe carrier fast 7 on said shaft within said drum and including a pair of arcuate flanges spaced apart circumferentially of said drum, a split ringlike shoe surrounding said fiange and having radial ends spaced apart and relatively separable to expand said shoe against said drum, means to tension said shoe against expansion comprising a split ring reactive inwardly and having its opposite ends secured to and bearing against said ends of the shoe, and means to separate said ends of the shoe including a spreader rotatably mounted on said carrier intermediate said ends of the shoe, a spreader rotating lever extending alongside said shaft and movable outwardly thereof, a

lever cammingrsleeve splined on said shaft and endwise movable into a set position tomove said lever and retain the same in outwardly moved position, and a lever pivotally mounted on said housing and operatively connected to said sleeve to move the same.

AUGUST H. POHLMEYER. 

